Packed first night of the Bible Week
Revd Dr Iain Provan has opened our 10th annual Bible Week, teaching to a packed church in Willowfield, East Belfast.
Iain is taking as his theme: The Big Picture: Reading the Bible for All That’s There, and will be drawing a map of the territory of the Bible, helping us get more out of our reading and “to colour in more of the canvas more effectively and beautifully than before”.
In his first address, Iain introduced ‘The Big Picture’, starting with the idea that all human beings inhabit narratives; indeed from the moment we’re born we’re “thrown into a world whose nature we have no initial way of comprehending.”
Gradually, by virtue of being given a story by our family and culture, we start to make sense of the world. However, as we grow and question that story, many of us begin a search for truth.
“Unless we know in which story we find ourselves, it is difficult to live effective and meaningful lives,” said Iain. ”And so one of the most important questions a human being can ask is this one: ‘Of which story do I find myself truly a part?’”
He continued: “Christian faith provides a unique answer to this question: There IS a big story, about life, the universe, and everything that is TRUE, with a capital T. It begins in the books of Moses, in Genesis, and Exodus, and so on, and it runs on to the end of time; and at its heart lies Jesus Christ.”
Iain explored the nature of the world as found in Genesis, contrasting this with the ideas held by western philosophy and eastern religion.
“Holy Scripture presents us with a story that tells it like it really is,” he concluded. “Where else should we go to gain our fundamental ideas about the narrative we are all caught up in? Where else should we go for a trustworthy map for our journey through life? ‘You, O Lord, have the words of eternal life’ – about the world in which we find ourselves, and about other important matters besides.”
‘Hear, understand and act’ – read Bishop Harold’s very helpful reflection on Iain’s first talk.
Diocesan Development Officer, Andrew Brannigan, also presented a video of the highly successful Kilbroney Adventure Camps, just one of the many youth and children’s activities in our diocese this summer. Watch it on YouTube here.
Please join us on Wednesday 1 September as we continue with, “Of Covenants and Promises: God Commits” (2 Samuel 7:4–16).
The Bible Week is four nights of Bible teaching, worship, ministry and encouragement for the Diocese of Down and Dromore but anyone is welcome to come along.